Creator
[?]
Recipient
John Muir
Transcription
[1]
New York Aug 10th, 1903
Mr John Muir;
Dear Sir: I take a privilege that greatness bestows upon its beneficiaries in letting the impelling impulse have way and let some of the pleasure you r book 'Our National Parks" has given me, have expression that reaches the giver of it. Being an ignoramus in science (as well as in much else) this is the first of your published works I have met: and being of stern necessity tied up to an office business - with the hills and streams but of sight and the love of them strong in me - imaging the delight of seeing the Sierras, of breathing the fine clear air. of making acquaintance with those blessed trees of yours - and all the other dear wild exquisite flora - and seeing with
03289
[2]
trained eyes and hearing learned explanations hearing with the subtle wisdom not learned in books, it is a treat- a vacation more enjoyed than many a one that has lost much and profiled little judging from its chatter.
"I look unto the hills whence cometh my strength" when I can see them. but now the hills have come to me- your poems have filled my minds eye and the thoughts of God" gleam through the phrazes that tell so clearly, wisely, poetically and devoutly about the wonders and glories of that beauty land that is lifted above the blight of plough and smoke-smut- roar and [illegible] of traffic and the more sickening masses of sordid g[illegible]elling
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[3] 316
Nameless
Parks
humanity.
Heavens own breath comes with you dear sir and I think all who visit with you a mountain height - a wild meadow glacier or woody dell must find some new songs springing from the heart. I will hope other children than my own will read all the pretty stories of wild game- (not game)-It must be better than bro[illegible]s and [illegible]ies. You will think me as saney and ventursome as any of your wild friends to be so frankly enlogest[illegible] but you will have one more proof of having found friends of the forests from which no one ever come down without something [caught?] from the bu[illegible] [illegible]sh.
Location
New York
Date Original
1903 Aug 10
Source
Original letter dimensions: 21.5 x 21.5 cm.
Recommended Citation
Unindentified, "Letter from [?] to John Muir, 1903 Aug 10." (1903). John Muir Correspondence (PDFs). 2686.
https://scholarlycommons.pacific.edu/muir-correspondence/2686
Resource Identifier
muir13_0768-let.tif
File Identifier
Reel 13, Image 0768
Collection Identifier
Online finding aid for the microform version of the John Muir Correspondence http://www.oac.cdlib.org/findaid/ark:/13030/kt0w1031nc
Copyright Status
Copyright status unknown
Copyright Statement
Some letters written to John Muir may be protected by the U.S. Copyright Law (Title 17, U.S.C.). Transmission or reproduction of materials protected by copyright beyond that allowed by fair use requires the written permission of the copyright owners. Responsibility for any use rests exclusively with the user.
Owning Institution
Holt-Atherton Special Collections, University of the Pacific Library. Please contact this institution directly to obtain copies of the images or permission to publish or use them beyond educational purposes.
Pages
3 pages
Keywords
Environmentalist, naturalist, travel, conservation, national parks, John Muir, Yosemite, California, history, correspondence, letters
